Free NC MOM dental clinic coming to
HCC campus to serve community
WELDON –North
Carolina Missions of Mercy (NC MOM) will hold a free adult
dental clinic at The Centre at Halifax Community College
(HCC) on Feb. 19-20, 2010. NC MOM is an affiliate program of
the N.C. Dental Society.
The clinic, sponsored by the North
Carolina Dental Society, is expected to treat approximately
500 patients over a two-day period and will offer primarily
dental cleanings, restorations, and extractions. Partial
and denture repairs will also be made. Since all
dentists and clinic personnel will be donating their
services, there is no charge for any patients. This clinic
is for adults only. Treatment will be provided continuously
from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and from 7:30 a.m. to 3
p.m. on Saturday. Registration begins at 6 a.m. each day.
Patients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis;
there are no appointments.
The goals of NC MOM are to provide free
dental care to as many needy persons within North Carolina
as possible and to involve as much of the dental community
of the state in the treatment of the needy as possible.
Currently, NC MOM has enough equipment to set up a 45-chair
full dental clinic including x-ray, sterilization and all
instrumentation and supplies. For each clinic, there are
generally set up 20-45 chairs on which services are provided
for 300-600 or more needy people for the event. Volunteers
are dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants and
scores of general volunteers from all areas of the state.
Anyone whose family income does not exceed
200 percent of the National Poverty Guidelines is eligible
for free treatment. Proof of income is required and may
include a pay stub, utility bill, employer note, or evidence
of unemployment. In the case where no documented evidence of
income is available, an oral interview at registration will
be used to determine eligibility.
NC MOM is entirely a grassroots effort,
dependent on an all volunteer staff, members of which donate
their time and talents with funding from grants and
donations. Since its beginning in 2003, the program has
received national and statewide recognition.
